I've lived in Hampton Roads for about half of my life, but I rarely participate in local festivities. This summer, I've decided to change that practice and head to as many local events as I can.

Last Saturday, I headed to Harborfest, which I hadn't been to since I wore pigtails, with a few friends.

Wooden ships are one of the main attractions. I thought this one looked particularly snazzy.

A kind stranger took our photo!

We spotted a posh white party on a boat. Too bad we weren't invited.

We stopped by a tent where bands played all weekend. This area was one of the most crowded venues, with people, chairs, and other gear squeezed together on the small lawn.

If you hate crowds, Harborfest might not be your cup of tea, but if you love to people watch, you'll never be bored. I particularly enjoyed people watching other people watching me.

Around 7:30 p.m., my friends and I hunted for a place where we could watch the fireworks, which started at 9:30 p.m. People were already lining up along the pier. As we searched for seats, I snapped a photo of the gorgeous sunset.

It was so pretty that I had to take another.

We lucked out and snagged a corner of this boat, which was open for visitors. We got to watch the fireworks on the water!

As we waited for 9:30 p.m. to arrive, we watched boats steam across the Elizabeth River. The city in the distance is Portsmouth, Va.

I people watched the people waiting for the show. We made a new friend or two and met someone who dropped his phone in the Elizabeth River. We felt bad for him because the water is 10 to 15 feet deep.

Finally, it was time to watch the sky light up, plug our ears, and jam to the music that accompanied the show!

Then, I took one more photo of Norfolk at night, and we headed home.

This post is by Rachel Smith, a writer for the Regent Law Marketing and Communications Department.